ORIGANUM MARU
FAMILY: LAMIACEAE
SYRIAN OREGANO, BIBLICAL HYSSOP: A very fine, the finest, in my opinion, flavored oregano (use caution here in accepting the word of a person you don’t know… I also love strong garlic and hot, hot chili peppers).
This oregano has slightly hairy, light green leaves and small white flowers on 3′ long stems. Needs very intense sun; originally from Syria. This plant is believed to be the “hyssop” mentioned in the Christian Bible, since hyssop was unknown in the area at the time.
“Za’atar or Syrian oregano (Origanum syriacum) is a fun alternative for regular old oregano. Za’atar is a leafy green herb that looks very much like oregano when the plant first begins to grow; its fuzzy, spear-shaped leaves growing in clustered pairs along woody stems. As the plant grows and the stems develop, the leaves grow longer and r, more blade-like. Za’atar can grow up to three feet tall and develops spiked clusters at the top of its stems that bloom with pinkish-purple flowers. Za’atar is fragrant, and has an aroma similar to oregano. The primary compound in Za’atar leaves is carvacrol, which is the main component in oil of oregano. The taste is mild, but it also has a bit of spice.
Za’atar is a Middle Eastern herb grown primarily for a spice blend of the same name. There are a few different herbs that are referred to as Za’atar, though they are more commonly identified as Syrian oregano (Oreganum syricum) and pink or thyd savory (Satureja thrymba). The plant whose common name is Za’atar and the one believed to be the “true Za’atar” is botanically known as Thymbra spicata. This member of the mint family also goes by the name donkey hyssop and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes for over 1,000 years. Za’atar is almost always combined with other herbs to create an herb mix for use in salads, spread on breads, or used as a dry rub for chicken or lamb. Za’atar is most often dried and combined with sumac, sesame seeds and salt to make the known as “za’atar.” Plant in full to part sun in garden soil, moderate water with good drainage.”